Universality of the gauge-ball spectrum of the four-dimensional pure U(1) gauge theory

We continue numerical studies of the spectrum of the pure U(1) lattice gauge theory in the confinement phase, initiated in our previous work. Using the extended Wilson action $S = -\sum_P [\beta \cos(\Theta_P) + \gamma \cos(2\Theta_P)]$ we address the question of universality of the phase transition line in the ($\beta,\gamma$) plane between the confinement and the Coulomb phases. Our present results at $\gamma= -0.5$ for the gauge-ball spectrum are fully consistent with the previous results obtained at $\gamma= -0.2$. Again, two different correlation length exponents, $\nu_{ng} = 0.35(3)$ and $\nu_{g} = 0.49(7)$, are obtained in different channels. We also confirm the stability of the values of these exponents with respect to the variation of the distance from the critical point at which they are determined. These results further demonstrate universal critical behaviour of the model at least up to correlation lengths of 4 lattice spacings when the phase transition is approached in some interval at $\gamma\leq -0.2$.Comment: 16 page

The Effects of a New Vector Boson on the Top Quark Cross Section at the Tevatron

It has recently been shown that a new neutral vector boson $Z'$, with a mass of order 1~TeV and weak couplings to quarks only, could explain both the anomalous values of $R_b$ and $R_c$ and the apparent excess of large $E_T$ jet events measured by the CDF collaboration. We calculate the effects of $Z'$ exchange on the $t\bar{t}$ production cross section at Tevatron $p \bar p$ collider energies, including next-to-leading-order QCD corrections. We find a significant enhancement of the cross section and study the resulting $t \bar t$ invariant mass distribution, which could provide a decisive test of the $Z'$ model.Comment: 7 pages, LATEX, 4 figures include